Former PSG Standout Struggles at Manchester United, Raising Concerns Over Premier League Fit | OneFootball

Manchester United are facing an early crisis at the start of the 2024-25 season, and all eyes are on midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The Red Devils made the move on transfer deadline day to secure the Uruguayan to bolster their midfield.

This past summer, the Parisians sold Ugarte to Manchester United for a reported €50 million, with another €10 million possible in add-ons and a 10 percent sell-on clause.

The idea was for Ugarte to take the reigns from Casemiro, whose best days were behind him. However, that plan hasn’t gone to what Manchester United likely envisioned when they signed him.

After seven matchdays, Erik ten Hag and his team are currently in 14th place in the Premier League table and will need to find away out of this hole that they have dug themselves.

Following the Red Devils’ struggles, the Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston highlighted Ugarte’s complex start at Old Trafford.

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“[Ugarte] has not looked suited to the Premier League and has made a disappointing start,” Railston wrote in his opinion column. “His best performance so far was produced against third tier Barnsley and he does not want to become like Antony, who only performs against lower-league opposition in cup competitions.

“The jokes that Antony had found his level when he scored his first goal of the season against Newport County last term wrote themselves and Ugarte can’t suffer the same fate.

“United’s newly created football structure, which includes sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada, were said to be in agreement that Ugarte would be a strong addition, but he was nowhere to be seen when they recently watched from the stands at Villa Park.

“Ashworth has a proven track record of getting recruitment right and Ugarte must vindicate the faith shown in him in the coming weeks because there are lingering question marks.”